Keane bridge renovation delayed for lack of coordination between departments

Renovation of the historic Keane Bridge in Sylhet city cannot be started even two and a half years after the authorities allotted funds.

All of it happened due to a lack of coordination between the Roads & Highways (R&H) and Bangladesh Railway, sources said.

Meanwhile, the authorities weeks ago announced that they would keep the bridge shut for days for the renovation work, but it couldn't be started.

Earlier, the BR announced that the bridge will remain shut from July 25 to September 24. They also announced the suspension of the plying of all types of vehicles as well as restrictions for pedestrians through the bridge. They also sought assistance from the police through a letter on July 10 in this regard.

An official at the BR said they are ready to start the work soon. Materials are being taken to the site and hopefully, it will be started in a week, the official claimed. The R&H is supposed to keep the bridge shut, he added. R&H officials, however, said the BR is not ready to start the work yet. It is not possible to keep the bridge shut for a longer period.

The renovation work has been deferred several times due to problems in transferring funds, floods etc, an official noted.

The official said Tk 0.26 million was allocated in February 2021. But it was immediately handed over to the BR. Although the BR owns the bridge, it's under the control of R&H. But the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) has been looking after it for a long time.

As the bridge's condition was very bad, they kept the bridge shut for 52 days in 2021. However, the restrictions had to be withdrawn in the face of protests by the locals.

SCC Chief Engineer Nur Azizur Rahman said considering the bridge's importance, we suggested the R&H for allowing the bridge to pedestrians only in 2019. The plying of heavy vehicles had been stopped, he said, adding only light vehicles are allowed now.

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